Dixie Skateland celebrates its 55th anniversary

- Monroe News photo by KIM BRENT
Cara Brennan of Lambertville and son Sean Brennan, 3, enjoy a dance together during the Little Ones Dance Party Sunday at Dixie Skateland. The event for pre-kindergarten children throughout Monroe County and their families was sponsored by the Parent Coalition of the Great Start Collaborative of Monroe County.

NEWPORT — Dixie Skate­land rolled back to the ’50s this month to celebrate its 55th anniversary.

The roller rink’s patrons and employees reveled in a party Dec. 8, enjoying a large “Happy 55th Birthday” cake and prices rolled back to the 1950s.

Millie Anderson, the first manager at Dixie Skateland, is shown on skates in 1958 (above). She returned for the rink’s 55th anniversary party Dec. 21

Kids skated from the rink floor into the concession room for a slice of the cake with white frosting and red, yellow and blue decoration balloons. Dixie dollars were given out to purchase prizes from The Stuff Shop, and Party Panda made an appearance on the dance floor.

Chester and Gladys Berns opened Dixie Skateland at 5179 N, Dixie Hwy. in 1958 — back when the current co-owner, Tim Berns, was only 4.

Through the years, the rink has expanded, prompted fea­tures in multiple publications and been host to celebrities such as Stevie Wonder, Neil Dia­mond and Bobby Vinton.

The business has never left the Berns family.

Gladys’ sister, Millie Ander­son, first told her brother-in­law that Frenchtown Township needed somewhere for young adults to go and that a roller rink would be perfect.

Mrs. Anderson became the first manager of the rink as a 26-year-old. She recalls the opening day being crowded with nice weather outside.

“Fifty-five years is a long time. You don’t do a lot of things in your life that last this long,” she said, looking out at rink. “It was just an idea and here it is 55 years later.”

She described the many changes the rink has undergone since construction.

In 1976, Chester added square footage to the rink floor. In 1964, a snack bar and concession area were built. The interior style has transformed through the years.

But the change in culture is more noticeable to Mrs. Ander­son.

NEW YEAR'S EVE SKATE

On Tuesday, Dixie Skateland will host a New Year’s Eve lock-in from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

The event will include glow skating, games, danc­ing, prize giveaways and a balloon drop at midnight with more than 300 prize-filled balloons.

Admission is $5 to stay from 7 to 11 p.m., $10 to stay until 1 a.m. and $18 to stay for the whole event. Admission includes a slice of pizza and pop, as well as free snacks and a beverage in the morning.

Those signing up early will receive one “Dixie dol­lar” after admission is paid on New Year’s Eve.

Parents are welcome to stay the night as well, but they must be present to pick up skaters after 1 a.m.

There was organ music instead of hip hop. The dances were structured and formal. Everyone dressed their best. It was a date scene then, she said, filled with teens and young adults.

Now, the rink’s activities are more centered on youth. Fun is the focal point with pickle­eating and Mountain Dew­chugging competitions, upbeat music and, of course, Party Panda.

“It’s very different but it’s still wonderful and fun,” Mrs. Anderson said. “ They’ve kept it up beautifully.”

The current owners are Chester’s son, Tim, and his wife, Kathy Berns. Mrs. Anderson calls them the secret ingredient to the rink’s continued success.

At the anniversary event, Mrs. Berns donned her panda costume and led the children in the hokey-pokey and chicken dance.

They’ve held a free skate night on the last Wednesday of each month for the last 10 years. Admission and skate rentals are free, and inline skates are $1. The next free skate will be 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 29.

Tim was just 4 when his dad built the rink and he vaguely remembers the construc­tion before the rink floor was finished.

One thing he said he’s en­joyed watching over the years is the different generations coming in.

“A lot of the parents here with kids came here as children,” he said. “( The rink) has really grown with the community.”

Sean Dechert, an employee, remembers coming to the rink as a kid. Now that he works there, he says the Bernses make him feel like part of the family as well.

“It’s family-oriented and re­ally friendly,” he said. “It’s no wonder they’ve been open 55 years.”

Mr. Berns said he hopes the rink always stays in the family — passed down to his daughter, Sarah, and her 6-year-old son, Trey, after that.

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